Russia has officially banned the Elton John AIDS Foundation from operating within its borders, accusing it of working with the “collective West” to undermine Russian values and destabilise society.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Russian General Prosecutor’s Office claimed the foundation promotes “non-traditional sexual relationships, Western family models, and gender reassignment.” The organisation was added to the country’s list of “undesirable organisations,” a classification that criminalises its activities and puts its staff and partners at risk of prosecution.
While the ban stops short of labelling the foundation an extremist organisation under Russia’s 2023 Supreme Court ruling against the so-called “international LGBT social movement,” it reflects a significant escalation in the country’s crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights.
LGBTQ+ TARGETED UNDER NEW RESTRICTIONS
Russia’s increasing hostility toward LGBTQ+ identities has been codified through expanding “gay propaganda” laws and judicial rulings. The 2023 court decision effectively outlawed any form of LGBTQ+ activism, advocacy, or public representation, and the new ban on the Elton John AIDS Foundation extends these restrictions to international aid organisations.
President Vladimir Putin has linked the war in Ukraine with what he portrays as a broader ideological battle against the West, framing both LGBTQ+ rights and Western democracies as threats to Russian values.
A GLOBAL LEGACY OF HEALTHCARE AND ADVOCACY
Founded by Elton John in 1992, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has raised more than $600 million, supporting over 3,100 HIV/AIDS projects in 95 countries, including Russia. The organisation is registered in both the United Kingdom and the United States, and has worked to increase access to healthcare and reduce stigma, particularly within marginalised LGBTQ+ communities.
Despite his global popularity and a strong fan base in Russia, where he has performed sold-out concerts, Elton John has been a vocal critic of Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ stance. In 2014, he published an open letter condemning the country’s “gay propaganda” law, calling it a threat to human rights.
HEALTH CRISIS AMID POLITICAL POSTURING
According to Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s federal agency for public health, over 1.2 million people in Russia are living with HIV, the highest per capita rate in Europe. Critics argue that banning a leading global HIV/AIDS foundation prioritises political ideology over public health.
In an overtly political message, the Prosecutor’s Office said on Telegram:
“When a musician plays along with the promoters of democracy, you get propaganda. And if Elton John is at the piano, it is not just anti-Russian propaganda.”
The agency also accused the foundation of participating in a Western-led effort to “denigrate Russia” over its invasion of Ukraine, which continues to be framed by the Russian government as a “special military operation.”
